01) Hands of Goro, Hands of Goro (BSP Records)
The volcanic eponymous debut LP from Hands of Goro is easily my number-one album of 2024. Hailing from the Bay Area, Hands of Goro, featuring Tom Draper (Spirit Adrift) and Slough Feg’s bassist Adrian Maestas (Slough Feg), and Nite’s Avinash Mittur on drums is one of the earliest bands to spearhead a sound known as the Third Wave of British Heavy Metal (TWOBHM). The album’s production pushes Hands of Goro to expand the bruising display of classic metal temperament and speedy attitude set to create the evolve the sing-along, anthemic style that made albums like Enforcer’s Diamonds and Skull Fist’s Chasing the Dream iconic in the early 2010s. Hopefully, a debut as epic as this will help push Hands of Goro and the Third Wave of British Heavy Metal into greater success to energize old-school and new-school listeners.
Standout Cuts: 1. Prince of Shokan, 3. Uncanny, 7. End to End
